Art in the Park Oct. 19-20 | Arts & Culture

Fort Smith’s annual “Art in the Park,” presented this year by the Clayton House historic museum on Friday and Saturday, October 19-20, will provide guests with a kaleidoscope of regional artistic talent to enjoy. From paintings to historic quilts, woodworks and jewelry, the works of art will be for sale and will represent the region from Tulsa and Tahlequah to Mountainburg and Greenwood, with plenty of Fort Smith-area artists and artisans represented as well.

“This year we have a mix of many newcomers to Art in the Park as well as many long-time cherished artists,” says Pat Little, founder of Art in the Park. Little volunteers her time along with a nonprofit organization each year to produce the eclectic event. This year’s free event takes place at the River Park Events Building, 121 Riverfront Drive. Hours are 5 – 8 p.m. Friday and 9 am. – 5 p.m. Saturday.

A percentage of art sales will benefit the Fort Smith Heritage Foundation, which is the nonprofit organization that operates the Clayton House museum.

In the hung art section, attendees will see oil paintings and watercolors by featured artist Lance Hunter of Tahlequah, who has exhibited in Europe and major U.S. cities and has received more than 27 awards in regional and national juried art exhibitions. In 2010, he was granted signature status with the National Watercolor Society. Teaching painting, watercolor and figure drawing at Northeastern State University, Hunter also paints large-scale murals, which are found in California, Oregon, Texas, Oklahoma and Kentucky.

Other artists from out-of-town include Judith Houston Emerson of Tulsa, who has studied sculpture, painting, and drawing at locations around the world. Great-granddaughter of Sequoyah Houston, a Cherokee light horse and U.S. deputy marshal who rode often over from Indian Territory with captured outlaws, Houston will also discuss her new book based on her Cherokee heritage, “The Myth Makers.”

Guests will also enjoy the beautiful works of well-known names including Pat Lappin, Jimmy Leach, Velida Palmer, Ann Powers, Priscilla Myers, Sandra McClure, Lorrie Bridges, Ralph Wallace Ingram, and Sanniemarie Slabbert, as well as artisans from Subiaco and artists working with the Cre8tive Arts Network.

Children attending the event will find an art table for their own creativity. Examples of Impressionism and Post-Impressionism, schools of painting that developed during the late 19th century--which is the era of the Clayton House museum--will be provided for inspiration.

Instrumental piano music by David Meseke will be featured at the free Opening Reception Friday evening. Appetizers and drinks will be provided, and guests can enjoy the first peek at the art for sale and meet the artists. Also performing Friday evening will be Fort Smith teen singer/songwriter Alexandra Salamone.

Saturday will include music by members of the local band Wingfoot. Light refreshments will be offered for donations to the Clayton House. The historic house museum, located in Fort Smith’s Belle Grove Historic District at 514 North 6th Street, features the 1882 Victorian family home of William H. H. Clayton, federal prosecutor of Judge Isaac C. Parker’s court.

For more information, contact the Clayton House at 783-3000 or email claytonhouse@claytonhouse.org.